As part of the EU-funded ELIXIR-STEERS project, the first version of an interface for creating and managing Software Management Plans (SMPs) within the Data Stewardship Wizard (DSW) has been implemented.
ELIXIR-STEERS brings together ELIXIR’s 22 Nodes to enhance large-scale, cross-border data analysis across Europe. The new interface is a collaboration between ELIXIR Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Denmark, and aims to equip researchers with a practical tool for integrating best practices in software management, supporting more reproducible and robust computational research across the life sciences.
SMPs are essential for ensuring the quality, sustainability and reusability of research software, a growing priority to enable open science. Recognising the need for structured guidance, there have been efforts to support researchers in planning and maintaining their software. The implementation builds on work by the ELIXIR Tools Platform to define and promote standards and best practices, and aligns with international standards for reproducible and reliable scientific software, for example from the Research Data Alliance (RDA).
The initial implementation introduces a new knowledge model in DSW which guides researchers through essential aspects of software management planning. It uses a structured questionnaire to help researchers align their software projects with requirements for sustainability, interoperability and reuse. Human-readable and machine-actionable document templates translate questionnaire responses into comprehensive SMPs, enabling both accessibility and automation-friendly integration.
Originally developed for Data Management Plans (DMPs), DSW is an ELIXIR-supported tool which has been adapted for software development. The implementation makes use of DSW’s core features, such as version control and project migration, and the ability to share outputs via the DSW Registry. Tighter integration between DMPs and SMPs is planned.
The first version of the SMP interface will evolve through community feedback, with refinements in licensing, security and reproducibility. Future iterations will expand the knowledge model, introduce new templates and integrate with platforms like GitHub, GitLab, Software Heritage and bio.tools, enhancing interoperability and streamlining workflows. Ongoing workshops and user testing will guide the improvements, ensuring the tool remains responsive to the research community’s evolving needs and supports the long-term adoption of best practices in software management.
By making software management planning more structured and accessible, the implementation supports the development of reliable, reusable and well-documented software, ultimately enhancing the quality and impact of scientific research.